Why doesnt my newborn sleep like a newborn should?

Question

I am a sleepless mommy of a 6 week old who refuses day time naps.My 6 week old baby ,doesnt sleep the entire day from 9 am in the morning.Finally at evening 8 she goes to sleep to wake up an hour and a half later.The she goes to sleep and then wakes up for her feedings ,a gap of 2 hours after being put to sleep.The best part is in the night she goes to sleep immediately after each feeding.But she wants to be awake ,and play and be held and attended to the entire day .Whats wrong,....i feel so sleep deprived.

Answer 1

I'm going to place my bet on overstimulation. At six weeks, should should probably only be awake for about 45 minutes including feeding time before going back down for a nap. If you're trying to keep her awake you'll overstimulate her which keeps her from being able to settle back down for sleep.

Sleep

What is the connection between brain development and sleep in infants?

As the brain develops and becomes more mature, infant's develop more regular, predictable sleep periods.

During the day and at night there are times when an infant's brain becomes drowsy and less alert. A good time to try to soothe the infant to sleep is when you see signs of drowsiness such as droopy eyelids or a decrease in activity and alertness. As the infant's brain continues to mature these periods of drowsiness gradually become longer and more predictable. Longer periods of sleep first develop during the night, but later extend to daytime naps. By four months of age many infants' sleep periods are more predictable.

Will placing infants in different locations to sleep, such as on a floor or in a car/infant seat inside the home or child care center, affect brain development?

There is no indication at this time that where an infant is placed to sleep positively or negatively affects brain development. The most important thing to keep in mind is the baby's safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be put to sleep on their backs, on a firm surface, in a room that is not too warm, in a non-smoking environment, and with no toys or loose bedding. These recommendations have been successful in reducing SIDS. It is important to make sure your child care provider is also aware of these measures to prevent SIDS, and follows them. In addition, since routines are important for young children, you should communicate your baby's sleep routine to your child care provider.

While you might want to use a moving swing or stroller for a few minutes to soothe an infant, prolonged movement should be avoided during sleep periods. Movement/vibrations during sleep such as a moving swing or stroller, "force the brain to a lighter sleep state" and make such sleep less restful (less restorative).

What you can do:

* Keep your routine as consistent as possible for the infant. Find out where the infant is most comfortable sleeping, and make sure you can provide it each time.
* Examine the environment for sleep. Light and sound may affect the brain's sleep centers, so make sure the area is darkened and quiet. Keep the sleep location at a moderate temperature since this may also influence the brain's sleep centers.
* Respect the infant's need for sleep, and help with the process of establishing good sleep patterns. Over stimulated infants have a difficult time calming down to rest.
* Infants should be put to sleep on their backs and not on their stomachs. The stomach position has been associated with an increased occurrence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). For more information, see the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Back to Sleep Campaign.

Answer 2

Well my daughter did pretty close to the same things, only she nursed every hour on the half hour. (even during the night). I found out she wasn't getting enough to eat, and keep her satisfied. You may want to check and make sure she is getting enough to eat, if you breast feed, rotate, i used isomil as a rotate after 8 weeks of NO sleep, and that gave me a lil break and gave bonding time with daddy. I nursed that way for 4 months, and worked full time. So never fear she will sleep, just make sure her little tummy is full and get plenty of exercise during her wake time.

Answer 3

That can be hard, I have been there. But you need to make her nap. Take her in a dark quiet room, not all newborns sleep all day, remember they don't have alot of activity to make them sleepy. Also if you breastfeed it is very common to have many night time feedings through the entire first year.

Answer 4

Lack of sleep in children can cause serious
health problems.If parents follow some simple
techniques for making their children sleep,
it can be avoided. I found useful information
at http://nosleep.in/sleepchildren.html

Answer 5

every child is different.